Are we understanding each other correctly?

When Mirosław says "Zadzwoń pod 112 po karetkę" at the construction site, he means exactly the same thing as when Mehmet shouts "Ambülans için 112'yi arayın." Nevertheless, the Pole and the Turk do not understand each other. If they want to make something clear to each other during the meal, they can take their time. But what if a heavy object falls from height? Then shouldn't the message be immediately clear to everyone?

Language barriers, ambient noise and distance are major factors that cause the message not to arrive or to arrive too late. With unambiguous words and gestures, you can make sure your comrade takes action. Let's practice for a moment. Stand up. Make a side step to the right and at the same time point with an extended hand also in that direction. This way, you make it clear which way the colleague in danger should go. In the unlikely event that something goes wrong, make the following two gestures. Make a bell gesture where you hold your hand near your ear with your little finger and thumb spread. Then make a cross with your arms. Colleagues should then call 911 for an ambulance. No, indeed that doesn't work right away. It takes some time for everyone on the construction site to become familiar with the 26 gestures introduced in the new safety code Construction Talk.

The use of gestures is not new and has already proven its usefulness, for example, in diving. When you go underwater, you are expected to know all the hand signals. If you move your flat hand from left to right under your head and along your throat, your dive buddy knows immediately that you have run out of air.

Everyone agrees with me that construction needs to be safer! For years we have been striving to improve safety on construction sites and to comply with safety regulations. This sometimes goes wrong because of confusion and noise on the line due to machines running.

I am therefore pleased that FNV Bouwen & Wonen, CNV Vakmensen, Aannemersfederatie Nederland, Vereniging van Waterbouwers, NVB and Bouwend Nederland have together developed Bouwspraak. And no, Bouwspraak is not a panacea, but it is a big step forward and part of Bouwend Nederland's 'Consciously Safe Every Day' awareness campaign. Whether your name is Jan, Jack, Alexandru or Gabor, I want everyone to come home from work safely every day.

You are also responsible for your own safety, therefore visit constructionspeech.co.uk/downloads and print out the poster. Hang it in large format on your bus, construction site and in the office.
The site is available in Bulgarian, German, English, Hungarian, Dutch, Polish, Romanian and Turkish. And also easily readable on your smartphone. Practice makes perfect.

Fortunately, we understand each other very well then!

Maxime Verhagen